Date indicator for razor blade dispensers



March Z5 1958 E. L. THOMA 2 DATE INDICATOR FOR RAZOR BLADE DISPENSERS Filed Feb; 16, 1954 INVENTOR, I aim]; c1 JAmz/a United Sta e Pae DATE INDICATOR FOR RAZOR BLADE DISPENSERS This invention relates to a new and improved date indicator forrazor blade dispensers.

Safety razors require blade replacement at intervals of several days in order to continue effective operation. The period of time for changing blades depends on the individual user. As a rule new blades are necessary after the same length of use by any person. Hence the user is desirous of inserting a new blade at the proper time to avoid wasting good shaves from the old blade and to prevent damage to the face by an old dull blade.

It is therefore an important object of this invention to provide date indicating means on a blade dispensing magazine to permit a user to know exactly how long he has used any one blade.

An important object of this invention is the provision of a date indicator integral with a razor blade dispenser.

Another important object of this invention is to supply a dater means attachment for blade dispensingcontainers.

A still further important object of this invention is to provide a manually movable pointer on a razor blade dispenser for selecting any one of a number of designated dates thereon whereupon on the day a blade is removed from the dispenser and placed in a razor the operator moves the pointer to show that date.

Another important object of the invention is to equip a razor blade dispensing magazine with an integral date indicator wherein a series of imprinted dates are positioned on said dispenser and a movable pointer is mounted on the dispenser adjacent the series of imprinted dates.

A further object of this invention is to supply a date indicator for razor blade dispensers incorporating a rotating pointer member to selectively designate any one number.

Other and further important objects and advantages will become apparent from the disclosures in the following specification and accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figurepl is a top plan view of a razor blade dispenserhaving the dater device of this invention thereon.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the dispenser of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1. 1

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of dater attachment for mounting on blade magazines.

Figure Sis a transverse sectional view taken through a blade magazine having the dater attachment of Figure 4 mounted thereon.

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of a razor blade 2,827,872 P aEentedMar. 25, 1958 ice dispenser having a date indicating means built as an integral part thereof.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 71-7 of Figure 6. i p p Figure 8 is a bottom plan view of a further modified form of a dater means associated with a razor blade dispenser. V

As shown in the drawingsf H p The reference numeral 10 indicates generally a razor blade dispenser magazine. These dispensers are of the type commonly employed by several razor blade manufacturers. 'In the dispenser, 10 as shown in Figure 1 there is'an opening 11 in the center of the top through which a stack of razor blades 12 may be seen. Inuse an operator uses a finger to engage the uppermost blade and slide-it outwardly through either of the ends 13 or 14.

The dispenser 10 of Figure 1 has a side wall 15 upon which a series of numbers from 1 to 31 are inscribed and are generally indicated by the number 16. These numbers extend generally from one end 13 of the dispenser to the other end 14. For the purpose of providing greater separation or spacing between consecutive numbers they have been shown in two groups 17 and 18. The group of numbers 17 are in a line and consist of consecutive odd 7 numbers from 1 to 31.

bers on separate plate members and arranged in different patterns.

In the device of Figure 1. a spring bracket or clamp 19 is shownhaving its ends 20 and 21 gripped around- This strip-like the ends 13 and 14 of the dispenser. clamp 19 is relatively narrow and is positioned close to the side edge of the dispenser so the ends thereof will.

not obstruct the removal of blades in the ordinary manner. The strap or bracket 19 is employed to carry an indicator 22 for designating any one of the 31 datesv on the side of the dispenser. The indicator 22 includes a hand engaging knob 23, a pointer 24, and a reversed.- member for slidably engaging the bracket 19. The pointer depends downwardly toward the series of date numbers and is used to single out any one date. The reverse C-member is integral with the pointer 24 and extends-- over and thence under the strap clamp 19. There is sufficient friction in the elements to prevent unwarranted or accidental sliding of the pointer.

in operation a user removes a new bladefrom his dispensing magazine Iii and inserts it into his razor. Simultaneously he adjusts the indicating means to the number corresponding to that particular date of the,

month. This is accomplished by gripping the hand knob 23 andsliding the pointer to the position adjacent the proper date. Any user must determine the number of days he shall use hisblade. foreflective shaving. If for example, X user finds that three dayslis themaximum life of his blades for goodshaves, he can and" will 'ar range to change blades at the start er every fourth day.

The dating means on the dispenser merely} shows the user, when he put his previous blade in the razor. With this information available the operator may easilycalculate the time when he should insert a new blade in his razor and at the same time reset the date indicator on the dispenser.

A modified form of the invention as shown in Figure 4 is identified by the numeral 26. This is a dater device for blade dispensers which is a completely separate attachment and may conveniently be applied to any dispenser. without alteration. This attachment comprises a numeral or date scale in the form of a plate 27 which is substantially the shape and size of. the side wall of a dispenser. Thus when the plate 27 is placed flush against the sidewall of the dispenser it appears as the side with the series of numbers clearly visible thereon.

The date numerals on the plate 27 consists of an upper series 28 of consecutive odd numbers from 1 to 31 and a lower series 29 of consecutive even numbers from 2 to 30. Anelongated slot 30 extends substantially the full length ofthe plate 27. The slot 30 is parallel to and disposed between the upper and lower series or groups of numbers 28 and 29. The numbers in the upper series are offset from the numbers in the lower series so an indiflange 35 is disposed on the rear face of the plate 27.

Thus the indicator means is journalled for lateral sliding movement within and along the slot 30.

A strap 36 is attached to the top of the plate 27 adjacent one end thereof and extends away from the plate for the purpose of passing over the top of a dispenser. The

outer end 37 of the strap 36 is bent downwardly for the purpose of clamping or gripping over the side of the dispenser opposite the side carrying the plate 27. A spaced apart strap 38 is attached to the top of the plate 27 adjacent the other end of the dispenser and is similarly equipped with a downwardly bent outer end 39 to clamp over the far side of the dispenser. The two holding straps permit the easy removable attachment of the dater means of Figure 4 to a blade dispenser. Operation and use of this attachment is the same as described for the device of Figures 1 to 3. It should be noted that the straps flank the sides of the. opening 11 in the top of the dispenser as shown in Figure 1 so there is no interference with blade dispensing. Figure shows the attachment of Figure 4 applied toa dispenser 40. The cross sectional view of this dispenser 40 shows the blade discharge opening 41 in one end thereof.

Figures 6 and 7 depict a further modified form of the invention wherein the features of the removable attachment of Figures 4 and 5 are built into a blade dispenser. The dispenser 42 which is generally rectangular in cross section has a top 43, bottom 44, and sides 45 and 46. An elongated slot 47 is formed in the side 46. A row 48 of consecutive odd numbers 1 to 31 is imprinted on the side 46 of the dispenser above and parallel to the slot 47 Similarly a row 49 of consecutive even numbers from 2 to 30 is imprinted or otherwise applied to the side 46 of the dispenser below and parallel to the slot 47. The numbers of the spaced apart rows are interspersed or laterally offset with respect to. each other so that in any one vertical line there is only one number.

An indicator 50 has an upwardly projecting pointer 51 for the row of odd numbers and a downwardly projecting pointer 52 for the row of even numbers. A hand engaging knob is included on the indicator 50 which also has a rearward projection extending through the slot 47 and terminating in an enlarged flange 54 on the inside of the wall 46. This construction holds the indicator 50 in sliding relationship within the slot 47. Operation of this '4 modification isexactly the same as for the device of Figures 1 to 3.

A still further modified form of the invention is shown in Figure 8. A circular ring of consecutive numbers is imprinted or otherwise applied on the bottom 55 of a dispenser as shown at 56. A disc 57 has a central pin or shaft 58 which serves as a hand engaging knob and also the means for journalling the disc on the dispenser. A wedge shape cut-out 59 is provided in the disc and has its wide mouth open to the outer periphery of the disc. This permits the user to selectively stop the disc with the cut-out 59 over any single desired number. Hereafter use of this modified dater mechanism is the same as the daters or all the previously described figures. However, in lieu of sliding the indicator, it is rotated.

Various details of construction may be varied throughout a wide range Without departing from the principles disclosed herein and I therefore do not propose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than as necessitated by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A date indicator for a razor blade dispenser comprising a series of numbers associated with said dispenser, and means movably associated with said dispenser for designating any one of said numbers, saidseries of numbers being imprinted on a surface of said dispenser.

2. A date indicator for a razor blade dispenser comprising a series of numbers associated with said dispenser, and means movably associated with said dispenser for designating any one of said numbers, said series of numbers being located on a side of said dispenser extending from one end to the other end, and said means movably associated with said dispenser including a pointer member slidable along the length of the dispenser adjacent the series of numbers.

3. A device as set forth in claim 2 in which there is included a bracket holding the slidable pointer member, and spring clamp means on said bracket for holding said bracket to said dispenser.

4. A device as set forth in claim 2 in which the dispenser is provided with an elongated slot adjacent the series of numbers, and said pointer member is slidable along and within said elongated slot.

5. In a razor blade dispenser having a series of consecutive odd numbers from 1 to 31 in a line along the length of said dispenser, a series of consecutive even numbers from 2 to 30 in a spaced apart line parallel to the line of odd numbers, said even numbers offset from said odd numbers, said dispenser having an elongated slot parallel to and between the number lines, and an indicating pointer arranged and constructed for sliding movement in said slot whereby the pointer may be positioned adjacent any odd or even number.

6. A device as set forth in claim 5 in which the indicating pointer has two oppositely disposed points for positioning one on the odd line of numbers and the other on the even line of numbers.

7. in a razor blade dispenser having a series of dates arranged in a circular pattern thereon, and an indicating means journalled for rotation on said dispenser for positioning adjacent any selected date, said indicating means comprising a disc, a pin in the center of said disc and engaging the dispenser, said disc and pin rotatable about the pin. as an axis, and said disc having a V-notch cut therein with the wide mouth at the disc periphery,

whereby one date on the dispenser may be visible through the V-notch.

8. A date indicator for a razor blade dispenser in which the dispenseris of the type having a rectangular shaped box having top, bottom, sides and ends, said top having an opening therein to view the blades in the dispenser and to permit engagement of the blades by a users finger to cause discharge of the individual blades, each of said ends having a discharge opening therein, and

5 said date indicator including a series of numbers associated with said dispenser spaced from the top and end openings, and means movably associated with said dispenser and located adjacent said series of numbers for designating any one of said series of numbers.

9. A device as set forth in claim 8 in which there is included a plate, said plate carrying said series of numbers, said plate being of a size comparable to one side of said blade dispenser, and clamp means associated with said plate for removably mounting the plate on the side of the dispenser.

10. A device as set forth in claim 9 in which the clamp means includes spaced apart straps arranged and constructed to grip over the top of the dispenser flanking the openings therein and continuing down the far side of the dispenser opposite the side holding the plate with the series of numbers thereon.

11. A device as set forth in claim 10 in which the plate has an elongated slot extending substantially the length 20 thereof and said means movably associated with said dispcnser comprising a pointer member being slidable along and within said elongated slot adjacent said series of numbers located thereon.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,694,729 Bacon Dec. 11, 1928 1,813,686 Stetson July 7, 1931 2,248,161 Cross July 8, 1941 2,537,508 Brokaw Jan. 9, 1951 2,586,930 Florence Feb. 26, 1952 2,593,868 Fowler Apr. 22, 1952 2,664,999 Young Jan. 5, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,937 Great Britain of 1884 11,122 Great Britain May 6, 1914 Germany May 27, 1938 

